Bridgeton

Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, serving as the county seat. In 1686, the first colonists in Bridgeton set up a sawmill, and iron-works were set up in 1814. In 1845, Bridgeton became a township, and it became a city in 1865. Bridgeton became the county seat of Cumberland County, although it would become infamous for its poverty during the early 21st century, with the loss of glass and textile manufacturing jobs during the 1980s leading to economic downturn. Later, immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala would move into the town, working agricultural jobs. In 2010, Bridgeton had a population of 25,349 people, with 32.64% being white, 35.49% African-American, 1.38% Native American, .6% Asian, .05% Pacific islander, 25.71% other races, and 4.13% multiracial; 43.58% of the population was of Hispanic descent.